Northumberland-Walks.co.uk - photographic walks in Northumberland.

Berwick Cliffs Walk

Introduction

This walk starts in Berwick and follows the coast north towards Marshall Meadows and the Scottish Border. The cliffs here are the highest in Northumberland and the views are spectacular with crystal clear water below revealing the seabed on calm days.

How far you walk depends on what you feel like or the weather. We had to turn inland and return along the A1 due to a torrential rainstorm.

Parking - Fee payable at Golf Club House.
Toilets - Next to car park.

Beach and Rocks at Sharpers Head, Berwick.

Cliffs Between Berwick and the Scottish Border.

Walk

Notes

The cliffs can be dangerous so care is needed.

The path can be overgrown in thigh deep grass which will soak you after rain - waterproofs needed!

Extreme care needed if crossing railway.

1) We parked at the car park beside Magdalene Fields Golf Course, where a fee is payable at the club house. This car park is right on the coast and is reached along Northumberland Avenue by turning right just before the bridge over the railway at Berwick Station when travelling north.

Of course you could start the walk in Berwick or from the station depending upon your mode of travel.

From the car park follow the footpath that leads north towards a caravan park seen straight ahead.

Below is a lovely little beach with clear water.

Start of the walk - Magdalene Fields Golf Course.

Path to Sharpers Head.

Views of the rocks at the start of the walk.

2) Follow the path around the edge of the caravan park, this is known as Sharper's Head. At low tide there are extensive rocks below the point.

The path follows the coast around the point and starts to head inland.

Path alongside the caravan park.

Rocks at Sharper's Head.

Rocks at Sharper's Head.

Beach and cliffs at Sharpers Head.

3) After a short while a path turns sharp right back to the coast.

Follow this path across a gulley and towards the sea.

The path was overgrown here when we walked along it.

The path crossing the gulley after the caravan park.

View back to the caravan park.

View out to sea over the rocks.

4) Keep on this path which skirts the golf course and is on the edge of the red sandstone cliffs.

You will soon reach rocks below called Brotherston's Hole and a small sandy beach if the tide is out.

A deep inlet between the cliffs.

The path alongside the golf course.

The path alongside the golf course.

View over the cliffs at Brotherston's Hole.

View over the cliffs at Brotherston's Hole.

The small beach north of Brotherston's Hole.

5) The path continues and now skirts farmland. When we walked the path the crops were growing right up to the path and were thigh deep along with the cliff top grass. As it had been raining we soon became soaked!

The very overgrown path above Brotherston's Hole.

View down to the rocks at Brotherston's Hole.

Footpath at Needles Eye.

Train speeding south to Berwick on the nearby railway.

6) The really big cliffs that lead up to the border now are in full view and soon you reach a point called Needles Eye.

We stopped to take photos here and enjoy the fantastic view north. This was made more spectacular by a combination of sunshine, crystal clear sea and almost black clouds of a very heavy rainstorm over the border.

Be warned - this point is very dangerous. We would have continued further north to Marshall Meadows but the rainstorm ahead was moving swiftly in our direction so we decided against it.

Views along the cliffs from Needles Eye to Marshall Meadows and the Scottish Borders.

7) Rather than turn back we followed a footpath inland just north of Needles Eye.

This crosses the main East Coast Railway and the warning signs must be heeded as trains may be travelling at very high speeds here.

Once across the railway the path runs up the side of a field and was again thigh deep in soaking wet crops.

Footpath to the railway crossing.

A high speed train passing by.

Stop, look, listen before crossing!

The footpath emerges at the A1.

8) At the top of the field we reached the A1 dual carriageway and a good tarmac footpath.

Here we turned right and walked back towards Berwick.

Approaching Berwick along the A1.

View over the River Tweed beside Berwick Station.

9) We walked until we reached Berwick Station, crossed the railway bridge and turned left along Northumberland Avenue which leads back to the golf course and car park.

Berwick Station seen from the bridge over the railway.

10) On the right are part of the Town Walls and the Bell Tower at Lord's Mount.

Lord's Mount Bell Tower and fortifications.

11) Continuing along the road with the golf course on the right and caravan park on the left brings you back to the car park and start of the walk.

Toilets and an ice-cream van are on your left if needed!

Magdalene Fields Golf Course and the road back to the car park.

Notes

The cliffs can be dangerous so care is needed.

The path can be overgrown in thigh deep grass which will soak you after rain - waterproofs needed!

Extreme care needed if crossing railway.

Walking Gear:

- Good walking boots or shoes advised.

- Waterproof clothing advisable depending on the weather
forecast.

Map - Ordnance Survey Landranger sheet no. 75, Berwick Upon Tweed.

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